Golf game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for playing within a confined area a golf game utilizing a standard golf ball and standard golf clubs comprising a horizontal teeing surface of predetermined size, a vertical wall positioned a predetermined distance in front of said teeing surface for rebounding a golf ball driven from said teeing surface toward said rebound means, a ceiling surface extending from the vertical wall towards the teeing surface, a landing surface of predetermined positioned for receiving the ball after it rebounds from the wall or ceiling surface, and a golf cup depressed in said landing surface, said landing surface being a continuation of said teeing surface in the direction of said rebound means. The vertical wall and ceiling surface each include a centrally located strip of material designed to rebound a golf ball and give an appreciation of ball spin. The strip material could be one having either a high coeffecient of friction, such as sponge rubber, or a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon.

United States Patent 51 Aug. 15, 1972 Brooks I 1 GOLF GAME APPARATUS [72] Inventor: George 1). Brooks, Manor Woods,

Apt. 28, Kennedy Dr. S., S. Burlington, Vt. 05401 [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 5,646

[52] US. Cl. ..273/176 F, 273/181 K, 273/185 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 67/02, A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search ..273/176, 181,182,185,184

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,841 10/1933 Evans ..273/182 A X 3,558,140 l/l971 Romeo ..273/176 B 702,828 6/1902 Smith ..273/181 K 3,260,527 7/1966 Younce ..273/l76 F 3,523,689 8/1970 Cornell et al ..273/185 E X 1,574,596 2/1926 Barnett ..273/l76 F FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 200,554 7/1923 Great Britain ..273/176 F Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Munson H. Lane and Munson H. Lane, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for playing within a confined area a golf game utilizing a standard golf ball and standard golf clubs comprising a horizontal teeing surface of predetermined size, a vertical wall positioned a predetermined distance in front of said teeing surface for rebounding a golf ball driven from said teeing surface toward said rebound means, a ceiling surface extending from the vertical wall towards the teeing surface, a landing surface of predetermined positioned for receiving the ball after it rebounds from the wall or ceiling surface, and a golf cup depressed in said landing surface, said landing surface being a continuation of said teeing surface in the direction of said rebound means. The vertical wall and ceiling surface each include a centrally located strip of material designed to rebound a golf ball and give. an appreciation of ball spin. The strip material could be one having either a high coeffecient of friction, such as sponge rubber, or a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDMIB 1 I912 3.684, 293

KHLET 1 BF 2 FIGJ.

V w I w /'8 INVENTOR I i EORGE D.BROOKS BY 9kg? ATTOR N I PATENTED AUG 1 5 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 'INVENTOR GEORGE D. BROOKS ATTORNEY GOLF GAME APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for playing a golf game within a confined space and it relates more particularly to an integrated golf teeing surface, rebound surface and putting green supported within a confined area and with which a golfer may play a game utilizing the total concept of a standard golf game.

The problem which gives rise to this invention is primarily that golfers in northern regions or in the snow belt have essentially no outlet for their golf interests during the winter. Also, golfers in crowded urban areas are at a disadvantage to play golf; as are golfers who wish to play after dark. Another significant problem is the excess time required to play 'an 18 hole round of golf which can be 6 or more hours in some areas.

Solutions for solving these problems have been tried and found beyond the reach of the greater majority of golfers, or are lacking in the total golf concept. There is an electronic machine in existence of considerable cost which has failed to become generally available Golf nets for hitting balls indoors are available, but offer only a limited portion of the total golf concept. Living room putting devices are available, but offer little semblance to actual putting.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a playing course within a confined area upon which a golfer may play a game embodying the basic concepts of a standard golf game.

It is further an object of this invention to provide within a confined area a teeing surface, at least one rebound surface, and a putting green, all of which are integrated in such a way that a player can strike a golf ball from the tee with a standard golf club, have the ball hit a rebound surface and be deflected therefrom in a manner indicative of the characteristics of the golfers stroke and land on the putting green on which the golfer then putts the ball toward a golf cup provided in the green. The confined area may be either indoors or out-of-doors and the apparatus may be portably mounted or fixed.

With the foregoing objects and features in view and with such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken from the plane of the line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken from the plane of the line 33 in FIG. 2;

Referring now to the accompanying drawings the invention as generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a teeing surface area 1 1, rebound surface areas 12, 13, 14 and 1S, and a landing surface 16 in which is located a standard size golf cup 17. The teeing area 11 and landing surface 16 are designated areas indicated on a simulated turf surface 18, or carpet, laid upon a horizontal supporting surface 19. The rebound surfaces 12, 13, 14 and 15 are made of materials especially selected for their rebound characteristics and are positioned on the interior rear wall, ceiling, right and left side walls respectively of an elongated room-like chamber 20. The chamber may be the interior of a supporting framework 21 comprising vertical posts 22,

longitudinal horizontal members 23 and transverse horizontal framing members24. However, the means for supporting the rebound surfaces, the landing surface and teeing area is not of importance to this invention and may be the interior walls of a room within a building or any other framework providing a playing floor or ground for supporting the simulated turf, and supports for the rebound surfaces 12, 13, 14 and 15.

The primary rebound surface is the back wall 12 however the top wall 13 may be used as a reaction or rebound surface for clubs of high hitting angles such as a No. 9 iron or wedge. The primary rebound surface 12 in one preferred form as illustrated in the drawings includes a high response area 12' and adjacent low response area 12' in order to produce various target effects. The rear wall 12 including areas 12" is made of netting such as nylon or cotton netting stretched to calibrated tensile characteristics. Secured centrally of the rear wall and extending vertically across same in the calculated target area 12' is strip of foamed elastomeric material such as sponge rubber (either natural or synthetic) which is of a calculated durometer reading so as to yield a desired rebound or bounce characteristic when impacted by a golf ball. Similarly the top wall 13, also made of netting, is provided with a centrally located strip 13' of sponge rubber extending longitudinally along the length thereof. The target areas 12' and 13 are in a position in line with the golf cup 17, so that a golfer hitting a ball from the center of the teeing area toward the target area should have his ball bounce back toward the golf cup provided the ball was hit in the proper manner, without side slice or spin. The rebound areas are designed to react to impact from the ball to give an appreciation of the velocity of the ball. That is, the reaction or bounce of the ball off the rebound area will be a function of the velocity of the ball striking the rebound area. For example a ball hit from the tee 11 against the target area 12' will bounce back from the target area 12' a distance which is a direct function of the velocity of the ball striking the target area. It is possible by the proper selection of the rebound area surface characteristics and the location of the golf cup 17 with respect to the rear wall 12 to obtain an appreciation of the distance the ball is required to travel from the teeing area 11 to the rear wall and back to the golf cup, and of how hard the ball must be hit to have it cover the required distance. In a standard golf game it is desired to hit the ball so that it will land on the green as close to the golf cup as possible. So with the invention it is desired to have the ball hit the rebound surface 12' or 13' so that the ball lands either in the golf cup 17 or as close thereto as possible. When using a wooden club or iron designed to drive the ball with a low trajectory, a ball hit from the teeing area 11 must be hit with sufficient impact and accuracy so that the ball will bounce off the target area 12' back toward the golf cup 17. If the player judges the distance accurately and gauges his stroke properly the ball should land in the area C (FIG. 3) near the golf cup 17. If the player underestimates the stroke required the ball may hit the target area 12' and bounce into the landing area A or B more remote from the golf cup. The rebound characteristics of the target area can be selected in accordance with the distance available between the teeing area, the rebound surface and the golf cup. That is,

if the area which is available for the golf game is small the target area may be selected so that it absorbs some of the balls energy and the ball will not rebound as far as if the area available were greater in which case the target area may absorb less of the balls energy and greater bounce will be imparted to the ball.

The simulated turf surface 18 functions as a landing, hitting and putting surface and therefore simulates a standard golf teeing area, fairway and putting green. The surface 18 may vary in quality depending on the function of the various designated areas of the surface. The green area C closest to the cup 17 should be of a characteristic quality closely resembling the surface of a putting green. The more remote areas A and B may be of like quality to the area C or they may have characteristics resembling a natural fairway including 7 tall grass, or even a sand trap. Different surface characteristics can be obtained by varying the length of the simulated turf fibers, or by varying the material from which the turfis made.

The side surfaces 14 and 15 are included primarily for safety purposes. If the apparatus were set up out of doors the side surfaces 14 and 15 could be omitted but preferably they are included. These side surfaces 14 and 15 may be considered out of bounds in the same sense and with the same penalties incurred in normal golf. The end of the chamber adjacent the teeing area ill is open in the embodiment shown but may be closed either for safety or as another reaction surface. The side surfaces 14 and 15 are made of netting similar to the surfaces 12 and 13. The netting used for all the surfaces 12, 13, 14 and 15 must be of a mesh size small enough so a golf ball with not pass through the net or get stuck within the mesh.

The rebound surfaces may also be designed to yield an appreciation of ball spin (i.e. neutral, right hand or left hand) thereby giving a feel for whether or not the ball is slicing, hooking or going straight. The spin effect may be achieved by having a rebound surface with a high coefficient of friction, such as natural or synthetic sponge rubber, in which case the ball will deflect upon striking the rebound surface. In this case the ball will deflect in the opposite direction from actuality (i.e. a sliced ball with deflect to the left rather than right).

The spin effect may also be achieved by a rebound surface with a low coefficient of friction such as Teflon or a Teflon coated material which would produce a minimum of deflection on rebound but a maximum of deflection when the ball lands on the turf surface 18. Appreciating spin when the ball strikes the green is the more desired approach in that the ball will deflect in the true direction of spin. While Teflon and sponge rubber have been given as examples of materials for the rebound surface other materials may be used which are determined to be of the proper rebound characteristics and coefficient of friction in accordance with the purposes described above. Teflon is a well known commercially available product and is defined in Reinholds The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Sixth Edition, page 1,1 10, as follows: Trademark for tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) fluorocarbon resins available as molding powder, extrusion powder, aqueous dispersion and fiber. The trademark also applies to fluorinated ethylene-propylene resins designated as 100 PEP. See polytetrafluoroethylene.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described it is within the scope of this invention that various other materials may be selected for the rebound surfaces other than those described herein ineluding among others canvas and other net materials stretched to yield some rebound response characteristic other than merely stopping the ball flight. The primary response surfaces 12 and 13 may have a uniform response characteristic over the entire surface, or they may have areas of different rebound response characteristics as described in accordance with the Y preferred embodiment.

The size of the apparatus described herein may be considered by way of example to be in the order of 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 10 feet high. but may vary as a function of space availability and cost considerations.

The method by which the apparatus is used to achieve a total golf concept is as follows:

1. A golf ball is teed or placed on the turf 18 at a designated teeing area 1 l.

2. The ball is then struck towards a target area 12 or 13' on the rebound surfaces 12 or 13 with a given golf club. Any of the clubs normally used in golf may be used.

3. The struck golf ball then rebounds or reacts with the struck surfaces 12 or 13 and lands on the turf or green surface 18. The quality of the turf surface may vary to simulate rough, fairway, sand traps,-or a putting green.

4. In the event that a properly struck shot lands on the putting green 16; the ball is then putted out in as many strokes as required to hole out.

5. The number of strokes taken to hole out beginning with the initial striking of the ball are counted as the score for a given hole.

6. The playing process may be repeated nine or 18 times to yield what is considered a normal round of golf. Various clubs (i.e. driver, 5 iron, etc.) may be designated for different holes in the game format.

The nature of the game as previously described implies that the playing of a hole is basically as a par 3, however an arbitrary format may be defined to include par 4 and par 5 holes. The game may also be calibrated by target sizing, reaction surface response, and turf surface variations such that a golfer will play approximately the same relative to par or handicap as he or she does on a conventional course.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for playing within a confined area a golf game utilizing a standard golf ball and standard golf clubs comprising a rear horizontal teeing surface of predetermined size defined by upstanding grass-like bristles, a vertical wall, a horizontal ceiling surface extending from the upper edge of said vertical wall toward said teeing surface, said vertical wall and ceiling surface each being adapted to rebound all golf balls driven thereagainst and prevent the passage of any golf ball therethrough and each including a centrally located strip of material extending the length thereof,

said vertical wall being positioned a predetermined defining a substantially continuous surface of bristles extending from said teeing surface to said vertical wall, and said vertical wall extending continuously upward from the adjacent edge of said putting surface whereby no golf balls can pass beneath said vertical wall. 

1. Apparatus for playing within a confined area a golf game utilizing a standard golf ball and standard golf clubs comprising a rear horizontal teeing surface of predetermined size defined by upstanding grass-like bristles, a vertical wall, a horizontal ceiling surface extending from the upper edge of said vertical wall toward said teeing surface, said vertical wall and ceiling surface each being adapted to rebound all golf balls driven thereagainst and prevent the passage of any golf ball therethrough and each including a centrally located strip of material extending the length thereof, said vertical wall being positioned a predetermined distance in front of said teeing surface and each of said strips having substantially greater rebound properties than the respective wall and ceiling surfaces on either side thereof, a putting surface defined by grass-like bristles and of predetermined area positioned for receiving the ball after it rebounds from said vertical wall or ceiling surface, and a golf cup depressed in said putting surface intermediate said teeing surface and vertical wall and located along a straight line extending from the center of said teeing surface to the center of said strip on said vertical wall, said putting surface defining a substantially continuous surface of bristles extending from said teeing surface to said vertical wall, and said vErtical wall extending continuously upward from the adjacent edge of said putting surface whereby no golf balls can pass beneath said vertical wall. 